Barcelona's Lionel Messi attempts an ambitious strike as teammate Luis Suarez looks on during yesterday's La Liga match against Velencia at Nou Camp in Barcelona . Barcelona won 2-0. (Reuters)
AFP/Barcelona
Lionel Messi scored the 400th goal of his Barcelona career as the Catalans beat Champions League-chasing Valencia 2-0 to move five points clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga yesterday.
Luis Suarez got Barca off to a flying start as he slotted home the opener after just 54 seconds from Messi’s through ball. However, it was Valencia who enjoyed the majority of the chances thereafter and they were left to rue Dani Parejo’s missed penalty in the first half. And Messi made sure of all three points with the final kick of the game after Diego Alves had saved his initial effort.
Suarez scored two wonderful individual goals as Barca all but secured their place in the Champions League semi-finals with a 3-1 win away to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.
And he took less than a minute to pick up from where he left off in the French capital as Sergio Busquets fed Messi and his pass was fired low past Diego Alves by Suarez for his 12th goal in as many games.
However, Valencia went on to dominate the remainder of the opening 45 minutes and were desperately unlucky still to be behind at the break.
Rodrigo flashed a shot just wide before he was deemed to have been brought down inside the area by Gerard Pique. Parejo’s penalty was poorly struck, though, and Bravo made a comfortable save low to his right.
Paco Alcacer then had a hat-trick of chances to grab a deserved equaliser as he turned Andre Gomes’s dangerous cross wide, saw a goalbound effort blocked by Pique and struck the outside of the post.
Barca boss Luis Enrique introduced Ivan Rakitic for Adriano at half-time in a tactical rejig to gain more control in midfield and Valencia found chances much more difficult to come by in the second period.
Messi was first to threaten after the break as he sent a dipping free-kick off the crossbar 25 minutes from time.
Luis Enrique then took the slightly surprising decision to replace Suarez with Pedro Rodriguez to keep the former Liverpool striker fresh for the return leg against PSG on Tuesday.
Bravo was needed to come to his side’s rescue once more 15 minutes from time when he turned the ball behind from Rodrigo’s volley.
But it was Messi who had the final word as he was given all the space he needed to break clear and score his 400th goal for Barca in stoppage time as Valencia chased in vain for an equaliser.
It was Messi’s 46th goal of an excellent season in all competitions. The 400th strike came in his 471st club appearance in all competitions, having made his debut in 2004.
Messi has led Barca to three Champions League triumphs, plus six Spanish Ligas, in his career so far.
The 400th goal was just the latest in a series of records and milestones for the 27 year-old Argentine, who nine months ago helped his country to the World Cup final.
Messi became Barca’s all-time top scorer in 2012, surpassing 1950s hero Cesar. Also in 2012, he broke the record of West German striker Gerd Mueller’s record of goals in a calendar year.
Griezmann on target as Atletico win at Deportivo
Defending champions Atletico Madrid stay third in the Spanish Liga with a 2-1 win at lowly Deportivo La Coruna thanks to an early brace from Antoine Griezmann.
The French forward struck twice within the first 22 minutes to set Atletico on the road to victory.
The visitors eased up in the second half—with their minds on Wednesday’s Champions League showdown against neighbours Real—and Oriol Riera pulled a goal back for Deportivo 13 minutes from time.
Atletico are third, four points behind second-placed Real, who were to host Malaga in Saturday's later match, and nine behind leaders Barcelona, who earlier beat Valencia.
